Jesse Jackson Sr.: Barack Obama must tend to black vote

Obama has ramped up outreach to African-Americans this fall. He’s given interviews to journalists and made campaign stops aimed at the constituency. But he’s also had high-profile disagreements with the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP over education, employment and housing over the last year.

Stimulus has become a bad word, and administration officials have avoided using it. They’ve sought to stoke economic recovery with smaller packages, mindful of the political fallout after Democrats passed a $787 billion stimulus in February 2009. It seems highly unlikely Obama would make such a call in the next few days.

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Jackson's group, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has been trying to galvanize the African-American community. They’ve taken voters to the polls for early voting, and Jackson recorded a robocall message, warning voters in the Chicago area that they should vote Democrat to block Republican efforts to repeal the 14th Amendment. “So we work and we hope,” he said. “We are not suffering from a lack of effort.”

Virtually all blacks supported the Democrat over the Republican on the generic ballot in POLITICO’s new poll, but only 47 percent said they’re “extremely likely” to vote. That compares to 73 percent of white voters, a majority of whom are backing the Republican this year.

Jackson invokes the example of 1986 to argue that African-Americans could be decisive if they get more engaged. He says that about two million new African-American voters registered Democrat during the 1984 election, and he attributes the Democratic takeover of the Senate in 1986 to their robust presence.

“We won North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and California — where Dems didn’t expect to win that year — because of the black vote,” he said.

Readers' Comments (77)

Jackson is a racist hack! Obama was elected POTUS to help ALL Americans; not just blacks, liberals and Dems! “I argue that there may be more coffee in the pot than tea in the cup." What kind of a remark is that? And no more stimulus! It didn't work then, it won't work now and we're BROKE! Jackson wants the taxpayers to pay for 'urban renewal' in areas where many residents don't work; don't pay taxes and don't even try to keep up their neighborhoods. We need jobs for everyone of every color; not more taxes and more handouts to special groups. We ALL need help and that would start with lower taxes for all; not spending more money on stimulus which will raise our taxes. Obama and Jackson are only further dividing this country. The more these hacks spew their ignorance, the more voters are going to the Republican side. They need to take Obama's advise earlier in the year and 'stop talking'. And that includes Obama!

Blacks look at O'mas record so far, why should they believe that he suddenly changes and is focusing on them. In addition, he would never get the money through congress. Empty promises O'ma made already more than average Liars from the W.H.

Who was the black leader who said Obama wasn't "down for the struggle" because he wasn't black enough or something like that? He doesn't have any black roots in America. The part of Obama that is American, is white. The part of him that is not-white is first-generation African. Obama is from the Luo tribe - Muslims who captured Bantu Africans and dragged them in chains, down to the ships of the white slavers. They were the Africans who were brought to this country - thanks to Obama's ancestors. Obama has absolutely no idea what ordinary black people go through every day. Puh-lease, don't point to his wife. Michelle Antoinette is an elitist snob and has never really has liked America anyway. She said so herself. Oh, by the way, isn't JJ a big Hillary supporter? I thought so. I expect you'll be hearing a lot from Jesse in the coming months, and it won't be in support of The One We've Been Waiting For. Just giving you all a heads-up.

Jackson wants the taxpayers to pay for 'urban renewal' in areas where many residents don't work; don't pay taxes and don't even try to keep up their neighborhoods. We need jobs for everyone of every color; not more taxes and more handouts to special groups

Typical Jackson = bribe the useless eaters with MORE OF OUR TAX $$. Get lost jackson - and take the rest of your big spending dem buddies with you.

What has Obama done in two years to earn the black vote; Obamacare is going to guarantee that the poor get less than they get now in healthcare; they'll have to pay a fine if they don't have coverage. Obama's illegal aliens will continue to compete with poor blacks for jobs and social services.

Obama had a white mother and was raised by a white grandmother. He snorted coke on the beaches of Hawaii with white kids. He attended elite, white colleges and lived with a white girlfriend while at Columbia.

He ain't one of your homeboys and could not care less about urban renewal..

Wow, now this is a demonic looking guy. I wonder if he wants to snip off any parts of O-man's anatomy. He better do it soon, because the American public is about to neuter O-man and the Dems on November 2.